While hardly unique to Wipeout, the boosts pads
which line its tracks and give passing ships an
additional slug of speed rank among gaming’s most
satisfying examples. They’re also potentially its
most dangerous, as the game’s demanding handling
and the cruel speed-sapping effect of wall impacts
necessitates perfect judgement.
CLASSIC WEAPON
B
efore Wipeout, videogames
were still lumbered with
tiresome stereotypes about
the nature of those who
enjoyed them. Sony and Psygnosis
knew that there was a broader market
to tap and worked with now defunct
design studio Designers Republic to
create a striking look and licensed an
incredible soundtrack that featured
The Chemical Brothers, Leftfield, Orbital
and more. It wasn’t simply a slickly
presented package, however. Though
unforgiving in the context of modern
games, it backed-up its cool exterior
with serpentine sci-fi tracks and
convincingly weighty anti-grav handling.
It’s a breakneck shock to the senses.Developer Psygnosis
Publisher Psygnosis
Genre Racing
Released 1995